MoD Signs MoU for Advanced Testing Facilities in Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor

Under DTIS, up to 75% of the funding is provided as 'Grant-in-Aid' by the government, while the remaining 25% is funded by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) composed of Indian private entities and State/Central Governments.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish three state-of-the-art testing facilities in Chennai under the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor. These facilities will focus on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Electro Optics (EO). The MoU, part of the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), was exchanged between senior MoD officials and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane in New Delhi on July 2, 2024.

Launched by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in May 2020, the DTIS aims to promote indigenous defence production, reduce military equipment imports, and enhance self-reliance with an outlay of Rs 400 crore. The scheme facilitates the establishment of advanced testing facilities in collaboration with the private industry and Central/State Government. To boost the defence and aerospace sectors within the Defence Industrial Corridors, seven testing facilities were approved - four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh. The MoU signed today pertains to the three facilities in Tamil Nadu.

Under DTIS, up to 75% of the funding is provided as 'Grant-in-Aid' by the government, while the remaining 25% is funded by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) composed of Indian private entities and State/Central Governments.

For the UAS testing facility, Keltron, a government undertaking from Kerala, is the lead SPV member, with several private sector companies forming the consortium members. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and India Optel Limited (IOL) are the lead SPV members for the EW and EO testing facilities, respectively.

Once completed, these facilities will offer advanced testing equipment and services to both government and private industries, significantly boosting 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence. This development is expected to provide a substantial impetus to the defence and aerospace sectors, promoting indigenous capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign imports.